Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/R40975/01
Title:	In-Vivo measurement of knee joint forces-Phase 3.
Principal Investigator:	Blunn, Professor G
Other Investigators:	Zavatsky, Dr A
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:	Royal Orth Hosp Stryker (UK and Int'l ed) UCL University of Oxford
Department:	Institute of Orthopaedics
Organisation:	UCL
Scheme:	Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts:	01 August 2001	Ends:	31 January 2005	Value (£):	233,505
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Biomaterials
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	Healthcare
Related Grants:	GR/R40982/01
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
This Proposal is to complete the development of an instrumented knee replacement for measuring the forces acting across the knee in vivo, and to implant the device into selected subjects and carry out follow-up studies over 1-2 years. This is the final phase of a project funded by EPSRC in which the system was developed and tested, Although the forces acting at the hip joint are now established, those acting at the knee are still unknown despite widely varying estimates using mathematical models, The data are needed for improving implant testing and patient rehabilitation regimes, for use in general biomechanics particularly in orthopaedics, sports medicine and human performance. The work is widely acknowledged to be of international significance. The project is now in the final stages of development. The main outstanding development tasks are to miniaturise the implant circuitry, and to develop calibration algorithms for determining the forces from the measured strains. Mechanical parts have been manufactured, but require to be polished, strain gauged, assembled with the circuitry, welded and calibrated. An extensive fatigue test has already proved the durability of the design, but a further test is needed to prove the reliability of the fully instrumented parts. In the second year, implantable assemblies will be built, calibrated and implanted into 4-6 subjects. Follow-up studies including gait analysis will be held at Stanmore. In the third year, follow-up studies at Stanmore will continue and at Oxford will be used to validate a 3D mathematics! knee model, suitably moded for the particular subjects to be studied.
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